ZRH - SFO

$580 Find Cheap Flights from Zurich to San Francisco

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Zurich to San Francisco departing on 8/19. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to San Francisco

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Zurich to San Francisco, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Zurich to San Francisco, as well as popular online travel agencies
Travelers love KAYAK
41,299,237 searches in the past 7 days on KAYAK

Save 21% or moreCompare multiple travel sites with one search.

Track pricesNot ready to book? Create a price alert for when prices drop.

Bundle and saveSave money when you bundle your flight + hotel.

Filter your dealsChoose cabin class, free Wi-Fi and more.

Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$762
Typical prices: $1,101-$839
Brussels Airlines, SWISS
Mon 7/6Mon 7/13
ZRH - SFO • 2 stops
Cheapest non-stop
$773
Typical prices: $869-$616
SWISS
Fri 10/16Fri 10/30
ZRH - SFO • Non-stop
Advice from real travelers
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
SWISS Premium Economy adds 99-cm recline and large screens for long-haul comfort.
United Premium Plus offers extra recline and legroom on this Zurich-San Francisco route.
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Top airlines
Cheapest • from $764 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 7.5 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with SWISS and United Airlines. Average duration is 12h 02m
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
+1
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
Avoid delays
Most punctual • 84% on-time
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $551 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 14h 25m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 3 weeks in advance save around 19% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 18% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
Start a new search
KAYAK searches 100s of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to San Francisco!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Expert advice
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Zurich to San Francisco (ZRH-SFO)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Zurich to San Francisco that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Zurich to San Francisco

Mon, Jul 6 - Mon, Jul 13
Multiple Airlines Logo
5:15 pm - 1:35 pm
ZRH
-
SFO
29h 20m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:50 pm - 9:30 pm
SFO
-
ZRH
16h 40m
1 stop
$762Multiple Airlines
Sat, Jun 27 - Sat, Jul 11
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:00 am - 9:55 pm
ZRH
-
SFO
22h 55m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
4:30 pm - 8:20 pm
SFO
-
ZRH
18h 50m
1 stop
$763Multiple Airlines
Thu, Jul 16 - Tue, Aug 18
Air Canada Logo
12:40 pm - 9:09 am
ZRH
-
SFO
29h 29m
2 stops
Air Canada Logo
1:25 pm - 4:35 pm
SFO
-
ZRH
18h 10m
2 stops
$764Air Canada
Fri, Sep 11 - Fri, Sep 25
British Airways Logo
11:50 am - 12:59 am
ZRH
-
SFO
22h 09m
2 stops
British Airways Logo
2:00 pm - 8:50 pm
SFO
-
ZRH
21h 50m
2 stops
$765British Airways
Fri, Aug 28 - Wed, Sep 9
SWISS Logo
1:10 pm - 4:15 pm
ZRH
-
SFO
12h 05mnonstop
SWISS Logo
7:35 pm - 3:50 pm
SFO
-
ZRH
11h 15mnonstop
$767SWISS
Sat, Sep 12 - Sat, Sep 26
British Airways Logo
11:50 am - 12:59 am
ZRH
-
SFO
22h 09m
2 stops
British Airways Logo
2:00 pm - 6:55 pm
SFO
-
ZRH
19h 55m
2 stops
$768British Airways
Wed, Sep 2 - Sun, Sep 6
Scandinavian Airlines Logo
2:55 pm - 2:40 pm
ZRH
-
SFO
32h 45m
1 stop
Scandinavian Airlines Logo
10:45 am - 2:10 pm
SFO
-
ZRH
18h 25m
2 stops
$769Scandinavian Airlines
Fri, Aug 14 - Wed, Sep 9
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:50 am - 6:24 pm
ZRH
-
SFO
17h 34m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:35 pm - 3:50 pm
SFO
-
ZRH
11h 15mnonstop
$770Multiple Airlines
Fri, Oct 16 - Fri, Oct 30
SWISS Logo
1:10 pm - 4:15 pm
ZRH
-
SFO
12h 05mnonstop
SWISS Logo
8:25 pm - 3:30 pm
SFO
-
ZRH
11h 05mnonstop
$773SWISS
Sun, Nov 15 - Sun, Nov 29
British Airways Logo
6:35 am - 6:24 pm
ZRH
-
SFO
20h 49m
2 stops
British Airways Logo
2:06 pm - 6:45 pm
SFO
-
ZRH
19h 39m
2 stops
$774British Airways
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Zurich to San Francisco flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Zurich to San Francisco to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

How much is a round-trip flight from Zurich to San Francisco?

This analysis is based on the cheapest round-trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from Zurich to San Francisco departing in July.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Zurich to San Francisco?

The average price of all round-trip flights from Zurich to San Francisco clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

For Zurich to San Francisco, Wednesday is the cheapest day to fly on average and Friday is the most expensive. Flying from San Francisco back to Zurich, the best deals are generally found on Wednesday, with Friday being the most expensive.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Zurich to San Francisco?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Zurich to San Francisco, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from Zurich to San Francisco is November, where tickets cost $691 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are July and June, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $952 and $916 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from Zurich to San Francisco?

The average round-trip price for all non-stop flights, flights with one layover, and flights with two layovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

Yes, flying with a layover may cost you more time, but you can also save money on the route, with a 2 stops layover the cheapest option at $813 on average.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Zurich to San Francisco?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Zurich to San Francisco, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from Zurich to San Francisco, you should book around 3 weeks before departure, which saves you about 19% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 9 weeks before departure.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Zurich to San Francisco

 
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Emily Zemler

Emily Zemler

Expert on SWISS and ZRH

Emily is a freelance writer and book author based in London covering entertainment and travel. Her work has appeared in Los Angeles Times, Observer, and Conde Nast Traveler She has ventured to more than 40 countries and all seven continents, always in search of a great art museum. She has written extensively about hotels, luxury travel, and aviation.

Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on United Airlines

Stefanie Waldek is a freelance space, travel, and design writer based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her words have appeared in Space.com, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful, among other publications. An expert in aviation and expedition cruising, Stefanie is frequently up in the air or on the sea, likely en route to Antarctica or the Arctic.

Blane Bachelor

Blane Bachelor

Expert on SFO

Blane Bachelor is a journalist and editor specializing in travel and aviation who writes regularly for top global outlets. Born and raised in Florida, Blane has worked and lived in four countries, including the Netherlands, where she’s currently based with her family. Her favorite way to get to know a new destination is by running or riding a bike around town – or hearing a spooky ghost story about local history. She will always choose the window seat.

Good to know

Low seasonFebruary
Cheapest flight$580
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 12% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 12% increase in price.
Flight from Zurich to San Francisco

When to book flights from Zurich to San Francisco

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Zurich to San Francisco based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking flights from Zurich to San Francisco

  • Can I bring my pet aboard United Airlines from Zurich to San Francisco?

    Yes, United Airlines allows passengers to bring their pets on flights from Zurich to San Francisco. However, specific policies and restrictions apply. United Airlines offers options for pet transportation, including allowing pets in the cabin or as checked baggage, subject to certain conditions and fees.

  • Can I pre-select seats on United Airlines from Zurich to San Francisco?

    Yes, you can pre-select seats on United Airlines when flying from Zurich to San Francisco. Seat selection is typically available during the booking process or can be done later through the Manage Reservations section on the United Airlines website. However, it's important to note that seat availability may vary depending on the fare class, ticket type, and the airline's policies.

  • Are there any visa requirements for U.S. citizens traveling from Zurich to San Francisco?

    Yes, U.S. citizens traveling from Zurich to San Francisco are required to have a valid U.S. passport. However, under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), U.S. citizens are eligible to travel to the United States for tourism or business purposes without a visa for up to 90 days. However, they must obtain an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before they depart from Switzerland.

  • What are checked baggage limits for Delta Air Lines for flights from Zurich to San Francisco?

    For Delta Air Lines flights the luggage limits may vary based on the ticket type and cabin class. For checked baggage, the maximum weight allowed is 50 lbs per bag, with a maximum linear dimension of 60 in. You should always check the specific terms and conditions for the ticket type and cabin class when booking with Delta Air Lines.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Zurich to San Francisco?

    In the last 5 days, the lowest price for a flight from Zurich to San Francisco was $580 for a one-way ticket and $762 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between Zurich and San Francisco?

    A passport is required to fly from Zurich to San Francisco.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from Zurich to San Francisco?

    SWISS, United Airlines, Lufthansa, and Air Canada offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the Zurich to San Francisco flight route.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Zurich to San Francisco?

    The Boeing 777-300ER is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Zurich to San Francisco flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Zurich to San Francisco?

    Star Alliance is the only airline alliance operating flights between Zurich and San Francisco.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Zurich to San Francisco?

    There are nonstop flights from Zurich to San Francisco on a daily basis.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Zurich to San Francisco, SWISS or United Airlines?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Zurich to San Francisco are SWISS and United Airlines. With an average price for the route of $844 and an overall rating of 7.5, SWISS is the most popular choice. United Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $904 and an overall rating of 7.4.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Zurich to San Francisco?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Zurich to San Francisco.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Zurich to San Francisco?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to San Francisco from Zurich is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Zurich to San Francisco?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to San Francisco with an airline and back to Zurich with another airline. Booking your flights between Zurich and SFO can sometimes prove cheaper using this method.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Zurich to San Francisco?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to San Francisco from Zurich up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from Zurich to San Francisco

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $876 or less one-way and $897 or less round-trip.
  • Common layover options for American Airlines from Zurich to San Francisco include layovers at their major hub airports. One frequent option is a layover at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in Texas. You can also have a layover at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) in Illinois.
  • Delta Air Lines offers a range of special meals for passengers on flights from Zurich to San Francisco. These include vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and kosher meals. Passengers with dietary restrictions or specific preferences can request these meals during the booking process or by contacting Delta Air Lines directly.
  • United Airlines offers a state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system for passengers on flights from Zurich to San Francisco. The system includes individual seatback screens with a wide selection of movies, TV shows, and music to choose from. Passengers can enjoy the latest Hollywood releases, popular TV series, and a variety of music genres.
  • Delta Air Lines also offers a range of services to accommodate individuals with disabilities, including wheelchair assistance, priority boarding, and trained staff to provide support throughout the journey. Passengers with disabilities are encouraged to inform the airline in advance of their specific needs to ensure a smooth and comfortable travel experience.
  • United Airlines offers several upgrade options for flights from Zurich to San Francisco. Passengers can upgrade their seats to United Polaris business class, which provides a premium travel experience with enhanced comfort and amenities. Additionally, United Airlines offers Economy Plus seating, which provides extra legroom and priority boarding.

Prefer to fly direct from Zurich to San Francisco?

 
Direct data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying direct from Zurich to San Francisco.
Find which airlines fly direct from Zurich Airport to San Francisco Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Zurich to San Francisco

Monday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Tuesday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Wednesday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Thursday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Friday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Saturday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Sunday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

San Francisco to Zurich

Monday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Tuesday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Wednesday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Thursday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Friday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Saturday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Sunday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top 3 airlines serving from Zurich to San Francisco

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Zurich to San Francisco. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Zurich to San Francisco? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7.5
SWISSOverall score based on 1968 reviews
7.7Boarding
7.1Food
6.8Entertainment
8.3Crew
7.4Comfort
Airline reviews

On time arrivals and departure, good in flight entertainment, courteous flight attendants, decent meals, reasonable seat space

10.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Jun 2026
ZRH - DEL
Read more SWISS reviews

On time arrivals and departure, good in flight entertainment, courteous flight attendants, decent meals, reasonable seat space

Close was excellent. Comfort was very good. The food was marginal.

Didn't make the connection as my primary flight was 3 hrs late, I had to basically beg to be put on a different airline to continue my trip otherwise I would have been sitting on the airport for 8 hrs

Best service we’ve ever experienced! Special thanks to the crew member who took care of us throughout the journey. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We love Swiss Air!

The boarding of this flight was total chaos. For some reason, all passengers had to stand in a lengthy line at the gate to have our passports checked for the FOURTH time. No reason was offered for the necessity of the fourth re-check, and when we got to the end of the line, the check was perfunctory. There was little to no crowd control at the gate and in some cases, tempers were flaring. On the other hand, once we got on board, everything about this flight from start to finish, especially the quality of the food and the service, was probably the best I have ever experienced..

Boarding was very chaotic, we had to stand in two different lines that were not clearly marked, and the announcements were not understandable from the microphones, and we speak both German and English. We paid Kayak $120+ for seat assignments when we purchased our tickets but when we printed our boarding passes, suddenly we had been changed to 16 rows further back than our assigned seats we paid for. The seats we were assigned to on our boarding passes had no usable overhead bins and so we had to sit with our carry on backpacks underneath our feet in an already crowded space. One video/entertainment screen kept crashing and thus was useless for viewing anything. It was not an enjoyable flight.

The biggest plus point of this flight is that the crew was very friendly. Otherwise on European sectors, the Business class seats are a joke and there is no entertainment of any kind. The staff should be trained to greet the Star Alliance Gold members to make them feel special.

The seat and leg room is small on the 2 seated row. Otherwise, very good crew and service.

Entertainment sounds were not good. Otherwise everything else was good.

Business class seating in Swiss really is just Economy seating minus the middle passenger

This was an overnight flight, and in the morning they did know coffee service. How you can throw passengers in a San Francisco airport at 5:40 a.m. in the morning and not giving them Coffee is a crime.

Our flight was delayed several Times due to mechanical issues. Although I understand this may happen at times, it was very inconvenient and we had to book a hotel for an overnight stay. We were traveling with my 3-yo grandson and waiting at the airport from noon until 6:30pm with no reassurance that our next rescheduled flight would depart, we had to decide what’s best for him. A day later, I found out that I may be able to demand compensation if my flight is delayed more than 4 hours. I will hav to read the fine print next time.

The staff was extremely helpful and friendly at all times! They went above and beyond to get us into an earlier flight in San Diego to make our connection in SFO possible, because our original flight did actually not make it! I did so much appreciate the UA team and how they made this possible. We also didn’t have seats together on the long flight to Singapore, but they found us seats together last moment with no additional cost! Nobody sat next to us, so that we were able to sleep! Thanks to UA for improving their service and Underpricer for booking this trip! Please be careful: 1,5 hrs for transfer in San Francisco might not be enough time in the future

Crew was great! Good meals. Had room to stretch out

How can you rate a flight when it is canceled after you leave the gate & 3 hours into sitting there or in remote area of airport after mechanical problems

Seat pitch is horrible especially on the 15 hour flight. Gate crew at SFO was Outstanding. The flight crew was also great.

6 1/2 hours from Tampa to SFO on a Boeing 737. Cramped. No Service. No real food. One pass for coffee at the beginning and a second pass THREE hours later. And check-in in Tampa was nasty even by United standards. And I am at almost TWO million miles on United. It's a non-stop. But terrible service.

First class ticket gets you no seat back entertainment? I have to bring my own laptop to see a movie? And most of their movies have ADS? No thank you. Worse: Tiny snacks only on a 2 hr flight?

Late plane. Only one crew on the ground so we b had to wait for Denver flight to come in, board, and depart. At 78 yrs of age I was not pleased trying to get my connection. What really made me angry was the notification you sent me to hurry up or I would miss my connection. Why tell me to hurry up when you got me in late. It was not a good way of treating customers.

No complaints other than luggage carousel was incorrectly guiding passengers to the wrong carousel on the screen.

I like the stripes, the more color the better I think you could even make more contrast with the stripes by filling in colors that create visual effect. The crew on both flights were polite well dressed, alert, good looking and very friendly. I never had a standing in line anywhere long for entering or exiting to my seat and it’s nice that people don’t bring too much luggage on the plane. The one thing I find is hard to manage is when a family or in general just being able to book a free seat if it is not for a dog, it shouldn’t be allowed. Since it is already very confined space on a flight overseas this can create slight conflict because there are sometimes free seats, which people then can freely use after cabin doors are shut. On the return flight, it was dark and by accident I stood on a paper bag with food in it that was placed on the floor in front of a seat next to me. I belong to the lady across the aisle and I felt terribly sorry once I found out there was still desired food in the paper bag. So I felt uncomfortable for getting into this situation. Otherwise I had a great time.

The food on this flight was better than what we had getting to Rome. The flight was comfortable and the staff was great. One of the staff members was a stickler about the blankets in the aisle, which I get, but still. Overall, great flight and will fly with them again!

Overall, we were satisfied with the Lufthansa flights to and from Rome/Zurich. Issue was the Frankfurt airport connection. It is HORRIBLE, but has nothing to do with the flight. Flight was very comfortable. Food was just OK. Staff was great and able to relax during the flight. Would definitely fly again!

Our screen kept turning off ...3 times...had to get crew attention to turn it on again

The legroom was lacking and the entertainment system lacked adequate selection of older films. Modern films are generally not very good.

Perfect airline, super friendly, great service, tasty food. Would fly again.

The flight attendants were wonderful - one man put my carry on in the bin for me. Very attentive service. Loved the blanket and pillow waiting for me in economy. Food was excellent which is a surprise given the reputation of any airline food. Wine was fine with the meals. Delighted with the new movies - flight went by very quickly. I would definitely fly Lufthansa again.

Flight was delayed by several hours and then cancelled due to weather. But Staff was very helpful getting me on a different flight. United should offer food coupons and tooth brush and paste for stranded passengers

Service was excellent. Flight was only about half full, which meant we had tons of room to stretch out. Boarding area was nice and well organized, flight attendants were super friendly and attentive and we loved the 3 snacks!

My flight was cancelled, but it was not Kayak's fault. Kayak did require me to pay for the ticket twice to two different venders who paid Lufthansa. Kayak/Lufthansa owes me for the first booking I made first was fraudulent on the part of the subcontracting ticket seller. There will be litigation over this issue under the current passenger protection laws.

Everything you need to know for your flight from Zurich to San Francisco

Information on your arrival and departure airports